Senator David Norris says people on welfare should not be allowed to buy drink.
The Independent Senator says he welcomes the introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol announced earlier this week.
He says he does not want to fund a round of drinks for people on welfare with his tax money.
And he says something needs to be done to tackle our binge drinking culture:
But a group representing some of those welfare recipients says it's an unfair characterisation of those on low incomes.
In the CSO's most recent figures (2010), PAYE workers drank 39% more than the unemployed (figures h/t @csi_) pic.twitter.com/LaXN6qSInl
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) December 11, 2015
And John Stewart from the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed says if the same principle applies, politicians too should be barred from buying drink.
Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for the National Lunchtime News:
